Eye mechanism for dolls.



L. KALVIN.

EYE MECHANISM FOR DOLLS.

APPLICATION FILVED MAY 25, I918.

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Patented Aug. 13, 1918,

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LOUIS KALVIN, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

EYE MECHANISM FOR DOLLS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed May 25, 1918. Serial No. 236,492.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS KALVIN, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Eye Mechanism for Dolls, of whichthe following is a full and clear specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in eye mechanism for theso-called sleeping dollsfland the object of the invention is to'simplifyand improve such mechanism, with a view to facilitating the mountin andde-mounting ofv the mechanism in the doll head and theautomaticadjustment of the eyes and lids, with reference to the eyesockets of the head, not only when -mounting the mechanism in the head,but in cases of shrinkage of the material of the head after thecompletion of the manufacture.

Tot-his end I have devised the doll head eye mechanism. comprising aneye supporting plate or frame having means adapted to engage the innersurface of the hollow doll head at a plurality of points and havlng adetachable locking device arranged to secure the plate in properositlon, with reference to the eye sockets o the head. The means ofengagement of the supportlng plate with the head are preferably thelower fixed 11d members and one or more adjustable detents formed ofpointed screws threaded through the plate and engaging the inner surfaceof the hollow head. By ad usting the pointed screws the angular relationof the plate to.

bers of spheroidal segmental shape with outwardly presented flangesadapted to accurately en age the lower edges of the eye sockets of thehead. The tongues of the e e attaching socket members loosely engage t eslots ofthe supporting plate, so as to be from the head crown 3.

movable thereon to adjust themselves auto matically upon the supportingplate to retaln proper relation with the eye sockets.

The upper movable lids are pivoted to the supporting frame upon a rodand are adustably secured together by means of inwardly presentedtongues that are bent intooval or other non-circular shape, so as totelescope one within the other, keying the two lid members together andpermitting their relative lateral adjustment. The counter balance forthe movable lids is suitably attached to a tongue projecting from one ofthe lid members.

In .order that my invention may be fully understood it will first bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings and afterwardpointed out more particularly in the annexed claims.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a. dolls head, showing myimproved eye mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the eye mechanism upon its supporting plate,removed Fig. 3 is a vertical'sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4: is a face view of the supporting plate of the eye mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail front view of the lower lid and eye supportingsocket;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the eye member secured in thesupporting socket;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the adjustable connectionbetween the movable eyelids; v

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the dolls head of-the closed crown type,showing a slight modification of thespring locking device."

-1 is a hollow dolls head formed as usualwith the eye sockets, 2, andthe open 5 is an oblong stamped sheet metal plate, formed with astrengthening rib or head 5 around its edges and with two oppositelyarranged oblong slots 6, to receive the eye and lower lid memberspresently to be .explained. Plate 5 is also formed with a centralopening 7, through which projects the counter balance of the upper lidmechanism, and screw threaded sockets 8 to receive the segmentalspheroidal wall 12, having acurved lower lid flange 13. The bottom wallof cup member 10 is perforated to form two integral attaching tongues14, which are adapted to pass through one of the slots 6 in plate 5 andbe bent over against the-under face of the plate to secure socket member10 in position, but movable freely in the slot 6 upon theplate 5, forthe purpose of affording automatic adjustment as hereinafter explained.

15 is the eye member; formed of a hollow hemispherical shape of suitablematerial in the usual way. The eye member 15 fits snugly in the cup 10,within the annular flange 11 and segmental flan e 12, and is engaged bya pin 16, carried y lug 17 upon flange 11. The pin 16 is designed to fita proper perforation in the side wall of eye member 15.

The upper movable lid members consist of two separately formedspheroidal segments 20 and 21, having at their outer edges perforatedlugs 20 and 21 and at their inner edges integral tongues 20 and 21",which latter are bent or shaped into elliptical or other non-circularcross sectional form, as shown particularly in Fig. 7 and telescoped onewithin the other to adjustably key the two lid members together, sothat'they Wlll rock in unison and can be adjusted with relation to eachother upon their axis of mo-' tion. 25 is a pivot rod supported insuitable openings formed through the flanges of cup members 10 and theside walls of the eye members 15. The pivot rod 25 passes throughperforated pivot lugs 20 and 21 and through the central telescopingportions 20* and 21 of the upper lid members, thereby supporting thecoupled members for rocking motion.

One of the lid members 21 is formed with an integral rearwardlyprojecting tongue 21, having perforation 21 to receive the bent end 30of the curved counterbalance rod 30, tongue 21 being bent around the rod30 to secure it to the coupled movable eyelid members. Rod 30 carriesthe counterbalance weight 31, which holds the movable eyelids open whenthe doll is held upright and causes the eyelids to close when the headis put in a reclining position, thereby simulating sleep.

Screwed into the sockets 8 of supporting plate 5 are the two ointedscrews 35 formed with squared hea 536. These screws are adapted toengage the inner surface of the hollow head above the eye sockets at twopoints to support the plate 5 in conjunction with the engagement of thelower lid members 13 in proper relation to the eye sockets. By adjustingthe screws 35 the angle of plate 5 can be accurately determined toeffect the most life-like appearance of the eye and lid members.

A suitable detachable locking member is employed for securing the plate5 in position within the head. I prefer to employ a locking member inthe ,form of a curved spring, as shown at 40, with suitably bent ends41, 42, engaging respectively under an angular ledge 3 of the head andthe upper wall of supporting plate 5. The shape of this spring lockingmember is such that plate 5 will be pressed downwardly and forwardly inthe head to hold it securely in place with the lower lids 13 en agingthe eye sockets and the adjustab e pointed screws 35 engaging the innersurface of the head above the eye sockets.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a slight modification of the invention, in whichthe eye mechanism is the same as above described, but in which the formof locking spring 45 is modified to permit its insertion through theopen neck, so as to adapt the eye mechanism to the form of hollow dollshead having a closed crown, a form which is largely used in making dollsheads with imitation hair.

In placing the eye mechanism in the hollow dolls head, the parts havingbeen properly mounted on the supporting plate 5, as just described, themechanism is )laced in the dolls head with the lower eyelids 13 inengagement with the lower edges of the eye sockets 2 of the head, theupper and lower .lids and eye members being adjusted upon the plateeither inwardly or outwardly to cause them to register accurately withthe eye sockets of the head. Holdin the parts in this proper relationthe adj usta le pointed screws 35 are-operated to adjust the an le ofthe plate 5 and the parts carried there Y The locking member or spring40 is then snapped into place in proper engagement with the innersurface of the hollow head in the-upper edge of the supporting plate 5to hold the parts as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The angle ofmechanism in the head can be more accurately adjusted, if desired, byoperating the screws 35 after the mechanism is in place.

The improved eye mechanism for dolls heads is of simple and economicalconstruction. The mounting of the eyes and lids upon the frame permitsthese parts to be accurately adjusted with relation to the eye socketsof the head. The adjustment of the main parts upon the plate is, in asense, automatic, in that they will properly adjust themselves in theeye sockets, moving transversely upon the plate 5 when the plate issecured in position.

This capacity for adjustment of the eye mechanism upon the supportingplate is a traction the material.

feature of great importance, particularly when the mechanism is mountedin composition heads that shrink or contract with age. In such shrinkagethe eye and lid members will be caused, by their engagement with the eyesockets and with each other, to automatically move upon their support ngplate transversel of the head to permit the con- Such automaticadjustment thereb takes place without injury to the head or themechanism.

I am not aware that it has ever been proposed to mount an eye mechanismin a hollow dolls head by detachable means nor by spring locking meansas above described, by means of which the parts are yieldingly andeffectively held in place to avoid disarrangement by jars or contractionof the material of the head. The mechanism is also of value from amanufacturing standpoint, since it is produced by die Work and a simpleassembling operation. The adjustable and removable features affordconvenient and economic means for mounting'and for the removal whenrepairs become necessary.

][ claim:

1. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofa removable eye-supporting plate, means supporting said plate within thehead in proper relation to said eye sockets, and locking means de.tachably securing the plate in place.

2. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofa removable eye supporting plate, means supporting said plate within thehead in proper relation to said eye sockets, and spring locking meansdetachably securing the plate in place.

3. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofan eyesupporting plate, devices upon said plate engagin the innersurface of the head to support t e plate in proper relation to said eyesockets, and locking means en aging said plate and the inner surface oft e head for detachably securing the platein place.

4. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofa removable eye supporting late having means engaging the inner sur aceof the head to support the plate in proper relation to said eye sockets,and a removable spring locking member engaging said plate and the innersurface of the head for detachably-securing the plate in place.

' 5. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets,of an eye-supporting plate, carrying means for engaging theinnersurfaceof the head at a plurality of points to support the plate inproper relation to said eye sockets, and locking means detachablysecuring the plate in place.

6. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, of3 an eyethe eye sockets, and

supporting plate having a plurality of devices adapted to engage withthe inner surface of the head and support said plate in proper relationto said eye sockets, and sprin locking means engaging said plate and t einner surface of the head for detachably securing the plate in place.

7. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofan eyesupporting plate, members. adjustably mounted upon said plateengaging the inner surface of the head to hold the plate in properrelation to said eye sockets and sprin lockin means detachably securingthe p ate in p ace.

8. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofa removable eye supporting plate, pointed screws adjustably mounted insaid plate and engagin the inner surface of the head to hold the platein proper relation to said eye sockets, and spring locking meansdetachably secur ing the frame in place.

9. The combination with ahollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, of asupporting plate for eyes and eyelids removably mounted in the headinproper relation to said eye sockets, means adjustably securing the eyesto said plate, and a removable spring locking member detachably securingthe p ate in place.

10. The combination of a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, ofan eyesupporting plate or frame carrying lower lid members adapted toengage the lower edges of said eye sockets, and a removable lockingmember for detachably securing the plate or frame in place.

11. The combination of a hollow dolls head, having eye sockets, with aplate carrying eyes and eyelids arranged within the head with eyelidsseated upon the walls of yielding means securing the plate in positioi12. The combination of a hollow dolls head, having eye sockets, with aplate carrying eyes and eyelids arranged within the head with eyelidsseated upon the walls of the eye sockets, yielding means securing theplate in position and adjustable means upon the plate engaging the headfor determining the angular position of the plate in the head.

13. The combination of a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets of aneye supporting plate or frame carrying lower lid 1 members adapted toengage the lower edges and eye members movably mounted upon saidsupporting plate and automatically adjustable' thereon into properrelation with the eye sockets of the head by the act of mounting thesupporting plate in position.

15. The combination of a hollow dolls head, having eye sockets, with aplate carrying, eyes and eyelids arranged within the head with eyelidsseated upon the walls of the eye sockets, said eyes and eyelids beingmovable upon the plate to eflect their automatic adjustment by the actof mounting the plate in the head, and means securing the plate inposition.

16. The combination with a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets,of, a slotted supporting plate removably mounted within the head, eyeattaching members adjustably engaging the slots of said plate anddetacha'ble means for locking the plate in position within the head.

17; The combination of a hollow dolls head formed with eye sockets, of aslotted supporting plate removably mounted within the head, socketmembers formed with integral tongues engaging'said slotted plate,

and eye members mounted in said socket members. 4

18. The combination with a hollow dolls head having eye sockets, cupshaped members formed with segmental lower lid members adapted to enga ethe eye sockets of the head, the eye mem ers, means for securing the eyemembers in sa1d cup-shaped members, a slotted supportmg plate, tonguesprojecting from said cup-shaped members and engaging the slots 1n saidsupport ng plate, and means for detachably securing upper lid memberspivotally mounted upon said frame and adjustable toward and away fromeach other.

20. The combination with a hollow dolls head, formed with eye sockets,of a supporting frame removably mounted in the head in proper relationto said eye sockets, lower lid and eye members secured together andmovably mounted upon said frame and upper lid members pivotally mountedupon said frame and formed with inwardly pro jecting tongues which are.adjustably interlocked.' 1

21. The combination with a hollow dolls head, formed with eye sockets,of a supporting frame removably mounted in the head in proper relationto said eye sockets, lower lid members engaging the eye sockets,

eye members mounted upon the lower lid members, means adjustablymounting said lower lid members uponsaid frame, and upper lid memberspivotally mounted upon the frame and adjustable relatively to eachother.

LOUIS KALVIN.

